Artificial respirator



May 23, 1950 F. 'r. WALLIN ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATOR 3 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 25a 1 18a 18 55 Filed April 30. 1947 m M mi WWW wm/ L, a

May 23, 1950 F. T. WALLIN 2,503,346

ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATOR Filed April 30, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 &

I F9 5 2 ,52 25a 25b X0 \A x JNVENTOR.

ELIQ; 742464.

w lla; Mae/m y 50 F. 1-. WALLIN 2,508,846

ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATOR Filed April 50, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. Y B

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a section of the side frame;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale on lines 4-4 of Figs. 1 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of my respirator in collapsed form;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the collapsible tube with a part in section;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the frame with the collapsible tube removed; and

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a rigid non-collapsible form of my respirator in its open position.

In the drawings it! represents the frame of my machine generally, and includes the legs ll mounted on casters l2, and the side rails l3. To be considered as an integral part of the frame, because rigidly fixed thereto, is the vertical headend section l5, and the foot-end frame section I8. The head-end section l5, preferably a metal spinning constitutes the head-end wall of the casing 25 to be described, and it is to be understood that the head of the patient passes through an opening provided in said end section l5 and mounted thereon is any suitable resilient collar generally indicated at 16 which includes a rubber closure adjustably adapted to fit snugly around the neck of the patient and to form an air tight seal therewith. It will be understood that a head-rest (not shown) is provided to sup port the head of the patient. The foot-end frame section I8 is merely an annular ring rigidly mounted on frame H], and may be regarded as the foot-end wall of the casing 25, to be describedv The foot end would normally be closed by a sheet metal wall section similar to the front or head end section I5, but in the device here shown the bellows-like mechanism for varying the air pressure within the casing, to be described below, is also mounted on the foot-endsection l8, and forms the end wall thereof.

A bed 29 is mounted on the frame l and includes side rails 21 and mattress 22. In the preferred form of my construction, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7 the side rails 21 are tubular elements 2m, 1) and c graduated in size and in which the smaller sections telescope into the larger elements to permit the respirator to be folded or collapsed into a smaller space, for storage or transportation. At the same time, for the same purpose, the side rails l3 are broken into smaller elements [3a, b and c in which elements 13b and c are pivoted at their ends and will fold or jack knife to permit the respirator to be folded into a small compact unit shown in Fig. 5. A locking dog IS with ears [4a extending over corresponding slots cut in the side rails Lib and c prevent the sections I31) and c from falling below the horizontal position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In Fig. 8, a rigid non-folding, or non-collapsible type of respirator is shown.

A hollow chamber or casing 25 is mounted and supported on the frame If), enclosing the bed 20, and is adapted also to contain the body of the patient, except for his head, of course, which, as previously stated, extends through the headend wall l of the compartment. The novel feature of the present casing 25 is that it has an extensible covering of flexible material such as rubber, rubber-coated fabric, plastic, leather, or the like, instead of the rigid, sheet metal casing commonly employed. The covering 25 is preferably corrugated with alternate ridges 25a and grooves 25b, which permit the covering 25 to be expanded and contracted. Casing 25 is securely connected at its foot end to a flange l8a on the foot-end section 18. The front end of the casing 25 is similarly connected to an annular frame member 28 forming part of a movable carriage 30. It is to be understood that a rubber gasket (not shown) is provided to make an air tight seal between the annular frame member 28 and the front end section l5 and that the two are clamped together by quick acting clamps, shown generally at 3!. A series of annular steel ribs 32 are preferably provided for the casing 25, fitting into the ridges 25a, as shown in Fig. 6, for supporting the casing 25. The moving carriage 30 carries on its lower bottom edge a series of wheels 33 which roll in a track 34 mounted on the side of side rails I3, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. The purpose of the moving carriage 3B of course, is to permit the covering 25 to be pushed back and compressed or contracted, when frame member 28 is disconnected or unclamped from head end section l5, thus permitting the patient to be inserted in the chamber 25 on the bed 26, given nursing care, or otherwise attended to. The covering 25 is shown in its compressed or contracted form in Fig. 2.

Also mounted on the foot end section 18 at its opposite side is a bellows 35 also of corrugated flexible material, such as rubber, and designed to expand and contract longitudinally, similarly to the casing 25. The purpose of bellows 35, of course, is to produce alternate variations of pressure within the casing 25 when sealed tight. The inner end of bellows 35 is securely fixed to an opposite flange on foot end section 18, and is closed at its outer end preferably by a rigid closure 31 to which is secured the pivoted bell-crank lever 40 pivoted at 4| to a bracket 42 on end wall 31 and at 43 to an extension 38 of frame l8. Supported on an under carriage 44 is an electric motor 45 in turn connected to a speed reduction unit 41 in turn connected by arm 58 to hell crank lever 40. It will be understood that the operation of the electric motor 45 causes the bellows 35 to be pushed in and out alternately and periodically, at a speed corresponding to the natural rate of breathing of a patient. Mechanism is provided such as a Reeves pulley 46 which opens and closes to vary the speed of the compression arm 65 from 14 to 30 cycles per minute. It will be understood that as the bellows is pushed in and pulled out it creates variations in pressure within the casing 25 when sealed with the patient therein, the variations in pressure ranging from normal atmospheric pressure to 40 centimeters of water vacuum, or less as required. But the mechanism is also arranged to provide positive pressure above normal atmospheric pressure, if needed, as may be required in some electric shock cases where the muscles have lost their normal resiliency. Negative pressure or partial vacuum in the casing 25 of course, permits air to enter the patients lungs and thereby inhale and the normal resiliency of the muscles will cause them to contract at atmospheric pressure after being expanded, and, of course, positive pressure in the casing 25 will cause the air to exit the patients lungs and thereby exhale. A flap valve 49 mounted on end section l8 permits the air within casing 25 to exhaust ordinarily, but closing valve 49 by tightening knob 49a creates positive pressure. A pressure responsive device 50 registers the variations of pressure within the casing 25 and records it in centimeters of negative and positive water pressure. Handles 52 are providedon end casing 31 of the bellows 35 for hand operation of the bellows in case of power failure. In that situation, of course, the arm 40 will be discon nected from the bracket 42. In the present constructlon the bellows 35 is shown mounted on the foot end of section l8 for the reason that this permits lowering of the height of the respirator and also simplifies transmission of powerfor operating the bellows. But it is to be understood that the bellows 35 may be vertically mounted beneath the casing and supported on under carriage 44, as is commonly done in rigid type respirators, such as shown in Roy Patent No. 2,308,630, granted January 19, 1943, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

On the folding type of respirator shown in-Flgs. 1, 2 and 5, the head or collapsible end of the respirator is mounted on the carriage 55, and to prevent the head end of the respirator from tilting backward when the respirator is being folded up as in the position shown in Fig. 5, mechanism is provided, such as lever 56, which is suspended between the under carriage M and the front end of under carriage 55. It will be understood, however, that telescoping tubes similar to side rails 2| of the bed may also be provided for this purpose in lieu of lever 56.

The operation of my respirator will be apparent from the foregoing description. To place the patient in the respirator the covering 25 disconnected and pushed back to the position shown in Fig. 2. The patient is then placed on the bed 28 with mattress 22 thereon, with his feet extending into the contracted covering 25, as in Fig. 2. His head is then passed through the opening provided in head-end section 15, and collar- I6 is adjusted about his neck to fit snugly, thereby making the compartment air tight. The power is immediately turned on and the bellows begins to operate, periodically and rhythmically con-- tracting and expanding to cause the patient to inhale and exhale air. It will thus be seen that my respirator has many advantages over that of the rigid type, and its lightness, simplicity of operation, smaller size, and lower cost will permit such respirators tobe used in many places where the larger rigid type. of respirator cannot now be placed.

It. is, to be understood that the head-end section 15 which normally carries a head-rest extending out about 15 inches, not shown in the drawings, may be hinged on a horizontal axis at or about its point of support by the head-end legs I I, so that it may drop down out of the way, to shorten the length of the respirator during storage or transportation, and also to facilitate placing of the patient on the bed 20. It is obvious, of course, that even when so hinged, the head-end section 20 is still rigid, stationary or fixed, with respect to the movable head-end of the chamber or casing 25.

I claim:

1. In an artificial respirator, a supporting frame, a bed mounted upon said frame to support a patient thereon, a casing enclosing said bed and adapted to contain the body of a patient except for his head, a rigid wall section mounted on said frame having an opening through which the head of the patient extends, and a resilient collar in said opening forming a seal around the neck of the patient, said casing having an extensible covering of flexible material adapted to be detachably connected at its head-end to said rigid wall section, but which is movable therefrom when disconnected to open said casing, and means for varying the pressure within said casing.

2. In an artificial respirator, a supporting 76 a patient thereon,

frame, a-bed fixedly mounted upon said frame to support a patient thereon, a hollow air tight som par-tment mounted on said frame, including a casing adapted to enclose said bed and the body of a patient thereon except for hishead, and a rigid wall section mounted on said frame having an opening through which the head of the patient extends and a resilient collar forming an air: tight seal about the neck of the patient, said casing having an extensible covering of flexible material adapted to be detachably connected at its head-end to said rigid wall section, but mov= able therefrom longitudinally, when disconnected, to open said casing, and means for varyingthe air pressure within said casing.

3. In an artificial respirator, a supporting frame, a bed mounted on said frame to support a patient thereon, a hollow chambersupported on said frame and enclosing said bed and adapted to contain the body of the patient except for his head, a fixed head-end section mounted on said frame having an opening therein through'which the head of the patient extends and a resilient collar in said opening forming an air-tight seal around the neck of the patient, and a corrugated covering of flexible material for said chamber capable of being disconnected from said head-end section and contracted longitudinally to open said chamber, and means for alternately varying the air pressure within said chamber.

4. In an artificial respirator, a supporting frame, a bed mounted on said frame to support a patient thereon, a hollow air-tight chamber supported on said frame and enclosing said bed and adapted to contain the body of the patient except for his head, a fixed wall section mounted on said, frame having an opening therein through which the. head of the patient extends and. a resilient collar in said opening forming an air-tight seal around the neck of the. patient, and an extensible covering of flexible, material mounted at its head end on a movable frame member detachably connected to said fixed wall section, and at its foot-end, to av fixed frame member mounted on said supporting, frame, said movable frame member being movable longitudinally, when, disconnected from said. fixedwalisection, to compress the, flexible COVeTillg to open said chamber, and'me'ans for alternately varying the air pressure within said chamber.

5. In an artificial respirator, a supporting frame, a bed mounted on said frame to support a patient thereon, a hollow air-tight chamber supported 011 said frame and enclosing said :bed and adapted to contain the body of the patient except for his head, a fixed Wall section mounted on said frame having an opening therein through which the head of the patient extends and a resilient collar in said opening forming an air-tight seal around the neck of the patient, and a corrugated covering of flexible material mounted at its head end on a movable frame member detachably connected to said fixed wall section, and at its foot-end to a fixedlframe member mounted on said supporting frame, a series of ribs between said frame members supporting said covering, said movable frame member being movable longitudinally when disconnected from said fixed wall section, to compress the flexible covering to open said chamber, and means for alternately varying the air pressure within said chamber.

6. In an artificial respirator, a supporting frame, a bed mounted on said frame to support a hollow air-tight casing sup.-

ported on said frame and enclosing said bed and adapted to contain the body of a patient except for his head, said casing including a rigid wall section having an opening therein through which the head of the patient extends and a resilient collar in said opening forming an airtight seal around the neck of the patient, and an extensible covering of corrugated flexible material supported at its head-end on a movable frame member detachably connected to said fixed wall section, and at its foot-end to a fixed frame member mounted on said supporting frame, and upon a series of ribs between said frame members, clamping means for detachably connecting said movable frame member to said head-end rigid wall section to permit said covering to be compressed longitudinally to open said casing, and means for varying the air pressure within said casing.

7. In an artificial respirator, a supporting frame, a bed mounted on said frame to support a patient thereon, a hollow casing supported on said frame and enclosing said bed and adapted to contain the body of a patient except for the head, said casing including a fixed wall section mounted on said frame having an opening therein through which the head of the patient extends and a resilient collar in said opening forming an air-tight seal around the neck of the patient, and an extensible covering of flexible material mounted at its head-end on a movable frame member detachably connected to said fixed wall section and at its foot-end to a fixed frame member mounted on said supporting frame, said movable frame member being movable longitudinally when disconnected to compress the flexible covering to open said casing, a bellows mounted on the foot end of said casing for alternately varying the air pressure within said casing, and power means for operating said bellows.

8. In an artificial respirator, a supporting frame, a bed mounted on said frame to support a patient thereon, said frame and bed having side-rails compressible longitudinally when said respirator is not in use, a hollow air-tight casing supported on said frame and enclosing said bed and adapted to contain the body of a patient except for his head, said casing including a rigid head-end wall section having an opening therein through which the head of the patient extends and a resilient collar in said opening forming an air-tight seal around the neck of the patient, and an extensible covering of flexible material supported on a pair of frame members, the head-end member being movable and detachably connected to said rigid wall section and the foot-end member being fixedly mounted on said frame, said covering being adapted to be compressed longitudinally when disconnected to open said casing, and. means for alternately varying the air pressure within said casing.

9, In an artificial respirator, a supporting frame having side rails, a bed mounted on said frame to support a patient thereon, a hollow air-tight chamber supported on said frame and enclosing said bed and adapted to contain the body of the patient except for his head, a fixed wall section mounted on said frame having an opening therein through which the head of the patient extends and a resilient collar in said opening forming an air-tight seal around the neck of the patient, and an extensible covering of flexible material mounted at its head end on a movable frame member detachably connected to said fixed wall section, and at its foot-end to a fixed frame member mounted on said supporting frame, said movable frame member being movable longitudinally upon tracks mounted on the side-rails of said supporting frame, when disconnected from said fixed wall section, to compress the flexible covering to open said chamber, and means for alternately varying the air pressure within said chamber.

, FRANCIS T. WALLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,195,744 Emerson Apr. 2, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 239,556 Germany Oct. 16, 1911 875,254 France June 15, 1942 

